LouisXVI。appearedthatdayarrayedinthegreatroyalermine，andworeuponhisheadaplumedhat，whosebandglistenedwithgreatdiamonds，whilethelargestintheroyalpossession，theso-calledTitt，formedthecentre，andthrewitsraysfarandwide。Thekingappearedattheoutsettobedeeplymovedatthereceptionwhichhadbeengivenhim。Asmile，indicatingthathisfeelingsweretouched，playeduponhisface。Butafterward，whenallwasstill，andthekingsawthegrave，manly，markedfacesofthecommonersoppositehim，hismannerbecameconfused，andforaninstantheseemedtotremble。
Thequeen，however，lookedaroundherwithacalmandself-possessedsurvey。Herfineeyessweptslowlyandsearchinglyovertherowsofgravemenwhosatoppositetheroyalcouple，anddweltamomentonToulan，asifsherecalledinhimtheyoungmanwho，twoyearsbefore，hadbroughtthemessageofCardinalRohan’sacquittal。A
painfulsmileshotforaninstantoverherfinefeatures。Yes，shehadrecognizedhim；theyoungmanwho，atMadamedeCampan’sroom，hadswornavowofeternalfidelitytoher。Andnowhesatoppositeher，onthebenchesofthecommoners，amongherenemies，whogazedatherwithangrylooks。Thatwashiswayoffulfillingthevowwhichhehadmadeofhisownfreewill!
ButMarieAntoinettewonderedatnothingnow；shehadwitnessedthefallingawayofsomanyfriends，shehadbeenforsakenbysomanywhowerecloselyassociatedwithher，andwhowereindebtedtoher，thatitcausedhernosurprisethattheyoungmanwhohardlyknewher，whohadadmiredherinafitofyouthfulrapture，haddonelikealltherestinjoiningthenumberofherenemies。
MarieAntoinettesadlylethereyesfall。Shecouldlookatnothingmore；shehadinthissolemnmomentreceivedanewwound，seenanewdeserter!